Pop star Miley Cyrus saluted her Disney Channel roots Thursday on the 10th anniversary of the premiere of “Hannah Montana.”
“Sending love to all my cast members on this anniversary,” Cyrus, 23, wrote on her Instagram page in a lengthy post, adding, “Even though I feel disconnected to who I was at that time I will always feel eternally grateful for the opportunity and platform I was given . . . None of it would have been possible without every single person who ever contributed to the series . . . From regular, to special guests (and there were many magical ones [such as country music icon] Dolly Parton) to creators, crew, directors . . . I am where I am because of loyal fans that I am thankful for and of course love dearly all the new angels who support me now.”
The half-hour comedy, about Tennessee-to-Malibu transplant Miley Stewart, who in disguise is secretly the pop star Hannah Montana, premiered March 24, 2006.
Cyrus has expressed mixed emotions about the role she took on at 11, writing on Instagram that, “Even though HM is chopped up into little tiny pieces and buried in my backyard she will always hold a very special place in my heart!”
Reflecting on the four-season series — which also starred her real-life father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, as her onscreen dad; Emily Osment and Mitchel Musso as her best friends, Lilly Truscott and Oliver Oken; and Jason Earles as her brother Jackson — she wrote that, “To the world it’s a celebration of 10 years but for us the journey began way before the world had any clue who . . . any of us are. There was a very long auditioning process, and many chemistry reads which really is what sold the show to the producers and channel because no matter what went on over the years (which none of you have any clue about but It was like the real world but more hormonal teenagers) our love for each other was unquestionable.”
Finally, she invited fans to “celebrate this day with us! Get real drunk and remember #HM4EVR,” and suggested a drinking game in which they “watch HM and every time someone says her name take a shot!
